Kinetic Theory of Matter

Key understanding
- Understand how the properties and molecular structure of solids, liquids and gases are
related to the forces and distances between molecules and to the motion of the molecules
- Understand how Brownian motion provides evidence for kinetic molecular model of matter
- Understand how the temperature, volume and pressure of a gas is related to the motion of
molecules
- Understand that the temperature of a body depends on the average kinetic energy of its
molecules
- Understand what is meant by an absolute scale of temperature

1. Group Discussion
a) Solids - How are the molecules in a solid arranged?
- Why are solids incompressible?
- Describe the motion of molecules in a solid.
b) Liquids - Explain in terms of the intermolecular forces and arrangement of molecules
in a liquid, why do liquids have a fixed volume but not a fixed shape?
- Describe what happens to the molecules of a gas when the temperature
increases.
c) Gases - Are intermolecular forces present in a gas?
- Describe the motion of molecules of a gas.

Initial response

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Three states of matter Solid Liquid Gas
Forces between Very strong _______ Strong intermolecular ________________
Molecules ________________ forces make it difficult for attractive forces
______________ of molecules to _______ the between molecules
attraction between liquid ________________
molecules, holding Intermolecular forces
them in __________ Insufficient to hold the act only at moments
positions molecules in __________ of
_______ (no fixed shape) ________________
Distance between Molecules are Slightly further apart than Very far apart
molecules closely packed and in a solid Mainly empty space
arranged in a between molecules
__________ pattern
Motion and Kinetic ________________ __________ of molecules Move at high speed
Energy of molecules about fixed _______ are free to ___________ _________ with one
________________ throughout the liquid by another and with
gliding over each other walls of containers
Molecules have very
_________________ Molecules have a ______ Molecules have
_________________ KE than in solid state ________________

2. Group Discussion
a) Explain how Brownian motion provides evidence for the Kinetic Molecular Theory of
Matter, i.e.
- All matter is made up of a large number of tiny atoms or molecules which are
in continuous random motion.
b) Is it possible to observe Brownian motion using ping pong balls in air?
c) Predict what you would observe if the temperature was increased.
d) Describe other physical phenomena that also suggests that matter is made up of a large
number of molecules or atoms which are in constant random motion

Initial Response

a) Experimental setup to demonstrate Brownian Motion

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 - Set up the apparatus as shown below

dotted lines represent the

path of smoke particles
between collisions

- Seal a glass cell containing a little smoke and place it under a microscope
- Focus the microscope on the glass cell
- Observe the motion of the smoke particles
 Smoke particles scatter the light shining on them, appearing as bright spots
 Smoke particles darting about in a __________________________________
manner.
 Random motion is due to
________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________.
 The smaller the smoke particle, the faster it moves.
- Conclusions
 Since we cannot see the air molecules, they are presumably _________________.
 To cause the Brownian motion of the smoke particles, the air molecules must be
moving ___________________________________________________________
when they collide with the smoke particles.

b) Is it possible to observe Brownian motion using ping pong balls in air?

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 3. Group Discussion
a) Use the kinetic theory of matter to explain what happens when two liquids of different
temperatures are mixed together?
- Extension: Compare the thermal energy possessed by the 2 liquids and the final
mixture
b) Do you agree with the statement below? Can you think of an example / counter-example
to support your argument?
- An object that has more heat possesses more thermal energy and is
obviously hotter. Therefore more heat means higher temperature.
c) Explain the difference between heat and temperature
- In your own words
- In terms of molecular theory

Initial Response

a) The molecules of the two liquids with different ___________________________________

into each other.
_____________________________ molecules occur and there is ___________________
_________________ from one to the other.
Finally, both types of molecules acquire the same value of _________________________
energy and the mixture achieves a _______________________, which is between the two
_____________________________ of the two liquids.

b) True or False? “An object that has more heat possesses more thermal energy and is
obviously hotter. Therefore more heat means higher temperature”

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 c) Temperature is a measure of the ________________________________ of a body. It is
measured using a thermometer and its SI unit is the ___________________________.
Heat is the amount of _______________________ that ___________________________
to ____________________ object. Its SI unit is the _____________________.

(In terms of Kinetic Theory of Matter)

Temperature is a measure of the _____________________________________ of all the
molecules in an object
Heat is a measure of the ____________________________________ of all the molecules
in an object, including the ___________________________ of the molecules (due to their
motion) and their _________________________________________________________.

4. What is internal energy? (Thermal energy)

Initial response

Internal Energy is
- the sum of ______________________________ ( _____________ of molecules) and
_________________ energy ( _____________________ forces) of all molecules in a
body
- A __________________________________ will increase internal energy
- A drop in temperature will ___________________ internal energy and _______________
________________________.
- Transfer of energy into a body causes a rise in ________________________ (increase in
__________________________ ) or a change ________________ (do work to overcome
_____________________________________________________ )

5. Suggestions for Journal writing:

a) Temperature is measured in kelvin. What are the advantages of using the kelvin scale for
measurement of temperature when the degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit scale are much
more convenient for everyday usage?
b) The kelvin scale is called the absolute scale because it does not depend on the property of
any particular substance. What is so absolute about the kelvin scale?
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 Conversion between the absolute and celsius scale
- The absolute scale is named after Lord Kelvin and the SI unit is the
______________.
- The “lower reference point” on the kelvin scale is at absolute zero, which corresponds
to _________________ on the Celsius scale. Celsius Kelvin
- scale scale

- What is the temperature of steam and ice point on the kelvin scale?
- The temperature difference between ice point and steam point on the
Celsius scale is ____˚C and ____ K on the kelvin scale.
- Thus, the magnitude of a unit on both scales is ______________.

Absolute zero
- Absolute zero is a hypothetical temperature where all ________________________
stops. Hence ___________________ is absolutely zero.
- It is assigned a value of ____________________ on the ___________________
scale.

6. Group Discussion
a) How does the temperature of a gas affect the motion of molecules?
b) Explain using the Kinetic Molecular Theory how the temperature of a fixed mass of gas
affects its
- Pressure
- Volume

Initial response

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a) When the temperature of a gas increases
- _________________________ is transferred to the molecules and the molecules gain
_________________________ causing molecules to _________________________.
- Since the air particles move ________________, they _________________ with the
walls of the container more ______________________________________________.
- This is illustrated by Brownian motion of the smoke particles in the air becomes more
_________________________ when the temperature increases

b) Pressure exerted by a gas

- Relationship between the motion of molecules and pressure
- When molecule bounces against wall,
 Exerts _________________ on wall
 Pressure of gas = _____________________
distributed per unit area
- Affected by
 ___________________ of collisions
 _______________________________ of each collision
- What happens to the motion of molecules when the
 Number of molecules increases?
 Volume decreases?
 Temperature increases?
- Factors affecting motion of molecules and pressure of a gas
 Number of ____________________ in the gas ( __________ )
 ______________________ of the gas
 ___________________ occupied by the gas

Effects of volume change. As the volume of a gas decreases,

- There is ________________________ of molecules per __________________

- Molecules travel ___________________ between collisions
- There will be more ____________________________ between the gas molecules
and the walls of the container

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 - ____________________ increases
Summary

Notes/Answers to textbook questions: